Highway 70 reopens with traffic control

Road to nowhere: A large section of cliff broke loose in the serpentine section of the Feather River Canyon about a mile east of Rich Bar. The event took place at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Tues. Dec. 22 and immediately closed Highway 70 to through traffic. After Highway 70 was reopened to traffic, work continued as crews were blasting the larger rocks and stabilizing the slide area, possibly causing further delays. Photo by Will Farris

12/22/2009 4:10 p.m. update -CHP dispatch reports there is now one way controlled traffic moving through the Feather River Canyon. The closures at junctions of SR 149 and SR 89 have been lifted. Caltrans remains in the area with slide removal operations. Motorists can expect delays of up to 15 minutes and should prepare accordingly.

Michael Mayor from the Caltrans District 2 Public Information Office issued a press release stating that State Route 70 had an estimated 1,700 cubic yards of material to be removed at the site of the slide. Blasting of larger rocks is scheduled for Wednesday. A Caltrans geologist is on route to the site.

Motorists are advised the road could be closed again at times on Wednesday to blast away big boulders that have fallen on the road.